41st of Ash, 120 AS
"Welcome honor guest! It is quite a surprise to see you again so soon. I am afraid I am simply ill-prepared for this unexpected occasion."
Lyra forcefully suppressed the frown that threatened to crease her lips. She had barely made it two steps through the door before she was assaulted by the man's far too boisterous greeting. Despite his words the shopkeeper, Jacun, was already standing in the other room, a pot of tea on the table and one chair pulled back. The smile on his face was close to insufferable, but Lyra schooled her features and waved a hand in greeting.
"Your... jokes leave much to be desired Master Alchemist." Strolling forward Lyra accepted the offered chair, letting herself be pushed up to the table, "It was you who said you would be prepared with my order on the morrow, was it not?"
Jacun's smile broadened, bright blue eyes twinkling in amusement as he offered a half bow, "It seems I have been figured out. Though you cannot blame me for an attempt at humor. I find it sets my guests at ease if they are able to laugh as soon as they walk through the door."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, "And how often do your jokes provoke laughter from your audience?"
At this Jacun hesitated before swiftly grabbing up the teapot, making quite the show of pouring out a cup for Lyra and himself.
"Wyrm leaf extract, ground juniper berries, and dark cap mushroom stems." The ingredients were said in a rush and a floury of hand motions, a thinly veiled attempt to divert the subject to other topics, "My courier gathered these ingredients just this morning. Now, dark cap mushrooms are highly poisonous, especially the stems." Lyra eyed the cup suspiciously, smelling at its contents while Jacun continued, "However, wyrm leaf extract works to neutralize the negative effects of the poison, while juniper berries enhance its decongestant properties while adding just a hit of sweetness to the earth tones of the tea itself. It is a fabulous brew for colds, especially with the changing seasons coming soon."
"I see..." Lyra said slowly, eyeing the murky drink before finally taking a sip. The warm liquid seemed to settle in her chest, giving her a spreading warmth that slowly reached to the tips of her fingers and backs up to her head. Were she still living she might have felt as if her sinuses were opening up, but alas most of the benefits of this brew were lost on the technically undead woman. "You speak of the ingredient switch such casualness, but could any but you prepare the mixture without fear of harming themselves?"
Jacun paused as he sipped from his own cup, faint signs of uncertainty showing before he shrugged and said simply, "I offer these mixtures for a price to my customers, so really there is no need for anyone to prepare the mixture themselves. Like you say, I would not recommend it for the unskilled, but I am anything but."
"Your humility is inspiring." Lyra said dryly.
"Of course it is. Humility is one of my greatest qualities." Jacon retorted with a wink.
They sat for several minutes then, simply sipping on their cups and Lyra idly looking around the shop. Finally, when her tea was almost gone Lyra set her cup to the side, placing her hands in her lap.
"Were you able to finish what I asked?"
In answer Jacun reached into the collar of his robe, pulling out four small teardrop-shaped vials with a cork in each. He set them all on the table before Lyra. Each contained what looked like ink, though it swirled somewhere between a liquid and a gas. Lyra's eyes widened in fascination, and she leaned forward to lift one of the vials up. She turned it over in her hand, a mixture of curiosity and slight discomfort filling her as she looked at what was essentially herself trapped in glass.
"It was a simple request, so I was able to finish it quickly." Jacun lifted on of the vials himself, looking through the glass at Lyra, "This substance... it is quite unique. It behaves almost like a living thing. When I first attempted the condensing process it kept trying to escape the vial. Most curious indeed."
"Is that right..." Lyra said softly. She could feel it, the substance within the vials. It was like a piece of her soul floated within that container, and wished to return. It was an odd sensation. She could create more of the gaseous aether at will, and she could control it much like she did her own body. Curiously Lyra pressed a finger against the glass. As if in response the substance inside lapped up the side of the vial, trying to touch her in turn.
"I would very much like the opportunity to examine that substance if you have more of it." Lyra glanced up and caught Jacun staring at her, the smile was gone, and a curious expression on his features. His eyes wandered down to the vial in her hand, and Lyra quickly let her finger drop. The condensed aether inside settled once more, "I believe I could produce some rather interesting effects were I to have enough."
"Perhaps, one day we can make an arrangement." The topic of conversation was a bit troubling. She did not care to think what a man like this might try to do with pieces of her aether. More importantly, she could not let him figure out exactly what she was. That would be nothing but trouble.
A rather tense silence passed between them for a time before Lyra remembered the other reason she was here. Reaching into the sleeve of her dress she brought out several large spools of thread in colors of black, white, silver, and gold. Jacun eyed them curiously.
"You said before that you could produce Infused Ink. Is it possible to infuse other items as well?"
Interest blooming in his eyes Jacun picked up one of the gold spools and looked it over, "It is certainly possible. Mind you that it greatly depends on the type and quality of the material being infused, and what it is being infused with." He set the thread down, turning his attention back to Lyra, "The higher the quality materials, the longer the infusions will last. Some can last for decades before they begin to break down, but inevitably they will being to come apart. Such is the nature of alchemy I am afraid." Waving a hand at the thread, "These are good quality, so if you provide something with a high purity that you wish it to be infused with I can make it so."
With a smile, Lyra set her vial down on the table in front of Jacun. Rummaging in her robes once more Lyra brought out 6 more vials of gaseous black smoke, arranging them on the table as well. Jacun's eyes widened, and a smirk lifted his lips.
"Yes... I believe that will do quite nicely."
"I need the infusions as soon as possible, as early as tomorrow or the day after if you are able."
This made Jacun quirk an eyebrow, "Why so soon?"
With a dramatic sigh, Lyra sat back in her chair, taking up the cup and downing the rest of the liquid. She ran a finger along the rim of the cup, staring into its now empty contents, "I have been invited to a... ball."
"A Ball?" Jacun's head perked up, eyes flashing in excitement, "You don't mean the one hosted by House Novalys do you?"
Once more Lyra sighed, "Yes... it seems I have caught the attention of a man who is a bit more than he first made himself out to be."
"A man, you say." Lyra looked up at the sound of a chair sliding closer, and grimaced at the eagerness in Jacun's eyes, "Now my dear, should I be jealous?"
"Hardly." Lyra snorted, "He is still too young to be of any real interest to me."
"Ah," the alchemist sighed, pressing a hand to his heart in mock relief, "Then it must be good fortune that I am of both proper age and caliber to hold your attention so thoroughly."
Then, for the first time since they met, Lyra smiled and shook her head, "You are far too young as well, little Alchemist. Speak to me when you are at least past your first century."
Blue eyes danced with amusement and he held up his cup in a toast, "Perhaps I shall do just that." He took a final sip of his tea, finishing the drink, and stood. Reaching forward he collected both his and Lyra's cups and carried them to the counter near the back wall.
"Will you be able to finish what I ask?"Lyra asked, standing as well.
"Of course I will, Ma'lakim." he said, voice confident, "I will have them for you tomorrow. Let us say... 10 silvers for everything?"
"That will be fine." Lyra glanced at the teapot that was still steaming. For a moment she wasn't sure how to ask, but eventually, she pressed down on the uncertainty and asked simply, "Do you, by chance, offer lessons in your arts Master Alchemist?"
"Just Jacun, Ma'lakim" the shop keeper said, turning and leaning back against this counter. He tilted his head curiously, "Are you, by chance, interested in learning Alchemy?"
Lyra nodded at the vials on the table, collecting the 4 finished ones and stowing them in her robe pocket, "I have begun to realize how useful this art is. While I will never be a master, it would be of great personal benefit if I could prepare certain ingredients beforehand, or perhaps do some minor infusions myself."
"It seems as if you are asking me to work myself out of a business partner." Jacun observed with a smile.
With a shake of her head, Lyra smiled in return, "I believe it is safe to say that I will never be without the need of your services." She paused, frowning as she realized what she had just said. Without realizing Lyra had allowed herself to feel... relaxed. It was odd, out of place sensation that made her glance back at the teapot with suspicion.
"In any case," The alchemist was the one to break the sudden silence, straightening and putting his hands on his hips, "I am certainly able to provide you lessons in the basics of Alchemy. For a price, of course."
"And that is?"
"Oh nothing of real value to you, I am sure." he said, thumbing the side of his nose, "Just write it in the contract that I will be the sole provider of infused inks and other materials to whatever projects you are preparing. Do that, and we have a deal."
It was once more Lyra's turn to quirk an eyebrow, "That is... quite reasonable. I can have the contract drawn up if these exclusive rights of sell come with a discount based on the amount would. I must also turn a profit, you see."
Jacun's smile widened further, "Of course, of course. Then we shall sign an accord between us. I will be your exclusive alchemist, and in exchange, you will receive a discount based on purchase volume, and I will do what I can to enlighten you to alchemy as well."
Turning the offer over in her mind several times Lyra could not find any loophole or hidden meaning in the Alchemist's words. So, after a minute she nodded, "Very well. We have an accord."
After that Lyra left the shop, her mind already thinking about the next day's projects. Jacun watched as she went, still smiling that same smile as his eyes almost glowed a vibrant saphire in the dimming light of sunset.
